How Much Winch Do I Need?
 

I have a 2006 MegaCab 4X4 Diesel (of course) and would like to get a winch. I'm wondering how big of winch I need? I don't do any off-roading I would just be using it to get un-stuck about once every year or two, usually in snow. I have found a 3,000 lb winch for a very reasonable cost. I realize that it won't pull my truck up a cliff, but would it be enough to help me get out of the occasional snow drift? I can't see spending hundreds of dollars for something that I'll only use rarely. I also would like the winch to be portable so I can use it to pull items (snowmobile etc.) into my enclosed trailer if needed, so I would want something relatively light weight.

Thanks for the help in advance! [coffee]

personaly i wouldn't go with anything smaller than 6K, prefeably when i get around to it I would like to get a 12K. warn has some reall cool ones that also have air compressors built in. as for potability for pulling sleds in i think that the little plug into the cig. lighter ones would have enought pull to do it.

I was kind of thinking along the 6,000 lb lines as well, but thought that I could always do a double line pull with the 3,000 to get 6,000 lbs straight line pull and usually that would be enough to get me out. Especially if I'm able to assist the winch with the tires turning?

I know that warne and others make some awesome winches, and if I were off-roading I'd probably spend the money for a bigger winch. But I can buy a new 3,000 lb. winch for $70! I also have a huge tow rope and a tow strap if I'm really stuck and have another vehicle around. But I was thinking that $70 is pretty cheap if it saves me some shoveling[yuk]

I have a 2500 pound winch on my 700 some pound 4-wheeler...it pulls it out adequately...

If you get an 8000+lb. truck stuck, a 6000 pound winch is going to do nothing but go off on thermal overload, and probably drain your batteries in the process.

A 3000 lb. winch would be like trying to put out a structure fire with a glass of water, IMHO.

At the minimum, a 10,000lb winch...

Personally, I'd get a 16.5K winch.

They make portable winch's that you can use to pull vehicle's onto your trailer with.

Just my .02.:)

A 10,000lb. Warne winch runs about $800-$1000. I'm just not able to spend that much. If winches were free or if I were loaded I'd have a 20,000 lb. winch. But, unfortunately, that is not the case...not in my world anyway. If the smaller winch will be worthless to me then I will just keep on going through life with no winch at all. I appreciate the input though.

I used to have a 4500# winch on my Jeep Cherokee, its was barely able to pull it out of the snow when stuck. I used to use a snatch block when needed but that cut the usable length of cable in half which was around 30ft. Not very useful if the nearest winch point is 50ft away. It got replaced with a 9.5K warn winch. I use it on my tilt deck trailer now for pulling dead vehicles on.

I have a 2500# winch bolted to the floor of my garage for pulling dead vehicles into the garage. It barely pulls my 3500 dually in.

I don't think a 3k winch will do much if you are stuck in a ditch, might be ok for just pulling thru a drift and not fighting uphill. Also you get what you pay for, I'm guessing a $70 winch will not take much abuse. How much cable is on it? Cann't really double line it if its got less than 50ft and still get any usable reach out of it.

I would go ahead and get the 3,000 lb winch.

To load the trailer. :)

I would look at something closer to the weight rating of the truck. Also when you figure weight, it increases dramatically depending on how "stuck" you are.

Has anyone ever tried using a winch in conjunction with a tow strap or tow rope? I've often wondered how it would work to tighten the winch against the tow rope until the rope is streched and then try driving out? It would probably have to be tightened up more than once but it maybe it would get the truck moving. Usually if I can get the truck moving at all back-and-forth I will be able to work my way out.

You will need something like this...

http://www.warn.com/truck/accessorie..._blocks_.shtml

get a real winch.... go with a pto winch[coffee][coffee] costs more but you will never run out of power[coffee]http://www.ramsey.com/winches/industrial.html

You buy it for me, I'll gladly install it!

OOps! I saw Warn.com and thought it was a winch. I know that I'll definately need a snatch block to make it work.

Till the engine dies or a shaft lets go..... PTOs are great for industrial use like on tow trucks but for offroad recovery the simplest,cheapest and most reliable is still a good electric winch.

Same thing here.....You buy, I'll install! [laugh]

This will work for extending the winch line so you can hook onto a point that is out of reach of your cable, especially if you are using a snatch block but if you are thinking of it like stretching an elastic and bungeeing yourself out...then no that won't happen. [laugh]

Also driving while winching can be VERY hard on a winch and even damage it if not done right. If you overrun the winch then slide back while spooling in you can take out the planetary gears from the shock load or even snap the cable. For this reason a winch's cable should not be used to tow someone out either. Just enough throttle should be applied to spin the tires and help the wincg out, not redline the engine and throw snow for 50feet.

Yep, I knew this would happen. I've stated a couple of times already that price is a huge issue for me....but I guess I'll repeat it.

Price is an issue.

I do not have the funds to purchase an $800 or more winch.

The only reason that I'm considering any winch at all is because I found this one at a very reaonable price. But if it's not going to do me any good, I won't waste the money on this one either.

Don't get me wrong, I appreciate the input. But I did not ask "what is the BEST winch for me?" I asked if this one would be any use or if it was useless to consider buying it.

Yep, that's what I was aiming at. But I did have my suspicions that it wouldn't work. It seems like as soon as the truck moves at all the pressure would be off the cable and rope eliminating the pull.
Thanks for the info.

For a fullsize truck thats NOT used for offroad and you just want a winch for occasional use, at the MINIMUM I would budget atleast $500 and buy a used Warn 8000# or better. Any smaller would just be asking for trouble.

For a truck you plan to use offroad at the MINIMUM I would look for atleast a 9.5K winch but a 12k would be better.

Oh yeah, don't forget to budget for a good solid mounting system. Most of the ones that slide into a receiver are only rated for 6000#.

THanks, sounds like good information. I guess I'll just keep going without. Like I said, $70 seemed cheap enough, but not if it definately won't work.

I guess that I'll have to limit the size of my winch then because that's what I was planning to use. I would put a receiver hitch up front so I could use the winch on either end of the truck. It doesn't make much sense to me to have a winch mounted up front and not be able to use it to pull myself backwards since that is usually the easiest way out of what I got myself into!

I've seen them used with 8k winches(starts to get bulky to haul around). Its ok for straight pulls, the problem comes in when you start to pull on an angle...

This may be an option for 'ya...

They come in handy for many things, a can be used as a light duty winch in a pinch!

http://www.hi-lift.com/hi-lift-jacks/index.html

If money is the key, then obviously you buy what you can afford - and then hope that it is adequate to do the job. What if you buy the cheapie and then find that it is not strong enough? Your money is wasted! Would it not make more sense to wait a bit longer, save you pennies and then buy something that you KNOW will do the job and maybe a bit more for safety?

Don't forget that the battery powered winches run out of steam VERY quickly under high loads. Then what? You may as well not have winch. Yes, the short time you have to get yourself out of trouble or load something before the battery runs down (even with the alternator at full output) will work for the majority of your needs, but what about the odd time you need some real grunt for an extended time? Again, you may as well not have a winch.

I would strongly suggest that you save a bit longer and then buy a hydraulic winch such as Mile Marker. Ask yourself why the US army is dumping so many Warn electric winches and switching to hydraulic?

I would not consider buying anything less than my vehicle weight times 1.5... meaning, if you roll your truck across a set of scales with 5 other people in it, and a full tool box and fuel tank, then multiply that times 1.5. What ever the answer is, that's the minimum weight rating that you need for a winch. Anything else would be a waste of money. A winch that is rated for exactly what your truck weighs will pull it on a level, paved road. You have to take into account for what ever is holding your truck down and any angle that you are at.

I understand completely your money situation. Remember, once you buy the winch, you gotta mount it, and mount it good. I would recommend a winch mount that you can remove and attach to your receiver on the rear of your truck also.

For now, I'd look at a jeep jack, http://www.hi-lift.com/index.html they are less than 200 bucks I think, and you can use them as an emergency wench. Or, (and this may sound dumb to you) you could get a hand crank winch with a hell of a set of low gears, and make a bracket for it.

HTH...

Ya got me while I was typing... you and stan! [laugh]

Don't forget to look on e-bay...

Great minds think a like.[laugh]

Sams warehouse (like costco) has a smittybuilt 8 or 9k winch for around $300 I think. Thats about as cheap as you get.

another choice...........
http://www.xcesselectronics.com/

What are you talking about?!?!? Most battery run winches when hooked to a good batttery will pull you out of most situations on a single run. If if does start to run down simply stop winching and wait for the battery to charge up.

Trust me, with the great big dual batteries that our trucks have you will most likely overheat the winch's motor before running out of juice and with a hydraulic winch you still have the problem of having no winch if the motor isn't running.

Mile Marker has been trying to get the offroading community to buy into their hydraulic winches for a long time. They even built kits to tie into the PS system on most Jeeps. However reports of burned PS pumps for those that tried it have pretty much killed it for the off road community.

Just cause the US army uses it doesn't mean anything, they are running them on trucks much bigger than ours where an electric winch just isn't practical(size wise). Their trucks also have MUCH better hydraulic systems to power them then whats found on a regular vehicle. They are also notorious for going with the "low bid".

I agree. Hi-Lift Jack and Off Road Accessory kit. Somewhat of a pain to setup up, but as long as you have enough straps or chains and something to tie to, you can winch it out. Only requires manual power, but you would be amazed at what you can move with that setup.

shoulda bought a 2wd and stay on the pavement[laugh][laugh]but then you young guys like to play in the dirt

if your just looking to get yourself moving then do like me care a couple chains in your truck, and if the need arises pull them out pile them under your tires and get yourself out and go back and get the chains. I used to drive a lumber delivery truck and got "stuck" on a slight snow packed incline (several times), 4-wheel drive didn't help (unless you call all 4 corners spining and letting you slide side ways working). All i did was grabed my chain, dug out infront of a tire, jamed the chain as far into that "hole" as i could get it, then I did a zig zag in front of the tire (it only gave me about 5 feet of traction since it was a duelly, you'll get more in a single rear wheel, but that was enought for me to get out.

Uh... no. I am not trying to flame you, but will point out that you are terribly mis-informed. I will not attempt to chagne your mind, I know it won't happen. I've been off roading and rock crawling for the better part of 30 years now, mostly on the Rubicon; that doesn't make me an expert, but certainly means I've had a lot of experience. During that time, I've burned up 2 warn 8275's one Ramsey and another Warn 9000lb winch. I've burned countless alternators and ruined I don't know how many batteries learning lessons on the fragility of winchs, 4-bys, and associated components. If you don't get stuck, you ain't rock crawlin'. There are advantages to electrics and hydraulics... each has its strengths and weaknesses. And to the old argument of "well if your engine dies stuck in a stream..." then chances are your battery(ies) may well charge out long before you get out of the stream and if you do, you certainly won't have enough juice left over to start the truck. Too many maybes. Been there... done that... stayed stuck until a rescue vehicle came around.

Having said that, and having a certain amount of experience with mile-marker winches on Humvees in the military, I can tell you really don't know what you are talking about. And it isn't about "low-bid". Those winches get used an awful lot more than the average guy with a jeep that might use his winch two or three times a year to get out of a mud puddle. Electrics just do not hold up to the abuse that the hydraulic ones do. Not even close. And yes, it is possible to burn up a power steering unit with a hydraulic winch... that is why heat exchangers are sold for them, but often are not installed. And the Army did have a number of Warns running around, dealt with the failures and went in a different direction.

Based on my experience with Humvees and their mile marker hydraulic winches I bought one for my Bronco. It has lasted me well over 12 years now and still works like new. I was lucky to get 5 years out of an electric. Having worn out the cable twice now (on third cable) I've used the winch enough to know the difference and I'll never go electric again. It is an awful lot like driving gassers for years then going to a Cummins... For real work, go hydraulic. (Disclaimer: The last thing I used my winch for was for felling large pine trees and dragging the logs around for cutting-- 10 hrs of work, try that with an electric)

Now back to the thread...

The winch at 3000 lbs may be better than nothing, but, you do risk getting stuck and the winch being no help at all, or worse, breaking the cable and hurting someone. That 3k winch has an awfully thin cable. The off-roader's rule of thumb is using a winch that the capacity is 2x the weight of the vehicle.

Well I won't argue with you there, I don't think we are going to change each other's minds....[duhhh]

However I would like to make a couple of points. I've been offraoding for about 15years and am a heavy duty fleet mechanic. We have about 10 pickups in our fleet with Warn winchs. No 8275s though.... [laugh].. Anyway for heavy duty use on heavy vehicles that have the systems to support it hydrualic winches are a good choice but I don't seem them as being a better choice for a recreational user. Any warn winch that I've seen burnt out or battery fried or alt cooked was from user abuse, not giving the system time to cool or recharge.

The author of the thread will at most probably use his winch 3-4 times a year, no where near enough to justify the extra expense and complication of installing a hydraulic winch.

This photo was taken in Moab, my Jeep stalled as all the gas ran to the back of tank and the pickup went dry. A hydraulic winch here would have been useless to me.

Attachment 74478

I've got a gorilla winch for my atv and it is good and actually cheap price wise.

http://www.gorillawinches.com

They have a 10k winch for $414. I have been think about getting one for my truck

In my opinion, the hydraulic/PS systems in a HMMWV is not heavier duty than the PS system in our trucks. All it is is pretty much a Chevy system.
I had an electric winch before my hydraulic and I would not go back to electric. More hassle than they are worth; especially on the alternator and batteries.
You want to go 1.5 times your vehicle weight if possible, but I know it is cost prohibitive. By the 300.00 winch from Costco and carry an extra length of cable with you so you can use the snatch block effectively.
Using the 1.5 theory, my winch is 4000# less than it should be at 12,000#

like i said, if you just need to get yourself moving carry 2 tow chains with you and "throw" them under your tires. Also good tires are a must. I have a buddy that works of UDOT and he has told me that about 90% of slide offs and wrecks could be prevented if the people had good tires[duhhh], the other 10% would be avoided if people would slow down and follow at a safe distance.[dummy]

OK, I might be a newbie on this forum, but I'm not a newbie to winching and off-road situations. Been doing it for nearly 20 years and I still have the first Warn M6000 (electric) winch I ever bought. That thing has pulled and pulled and doesn't owe me a cent for what I paid for it. The M6000 has been semi-retired to rear-pulling duty in a portable mount on my YJ and an XD9009i has replaced it on the front bumper. Both are electric, and for my uses, the electric is the way to go. For the OP, too. Here's why: the hydraulic winches are very slow. They can be made to work if installed properly, but the Mile Marker ones do have the rep for PSP damage. They will pull all day, but very slowly. They're also a more expensive and complicated set-up for someone that is only going to use it a few times a year.

Now, for the OP: I'd buy the $70 winch and mount it to your trailer, either permanently or in a removable cradle--that way, you can pull stuff up onto your trailer and still put the winch in a rear receiver to help pull you out of something backwards should the need arise. Run some heavy duty cables from your battery all the way back to the rear bumper, then end the cables with those heavy-duty electric plugs that you can use to plug the portable winch in. Make sure you leave enough length on the winch's electrical cables to reach the back of the truck when the winch is on your trailer so you can plug in. Then, I'd save up and go with the 1.5X weight rating suggestion for a permanent mount on the front of your truck. Personally, I'd go for at least a 12K Warn unit. Warn is the way to go, hands down. They have the best units, the best warranty, and good customer service. Go Warn or Go Home.[roll]

And to soulezoo: I'm not trying to flame you either, but if you're burning up 8274s, you're doing something wrong, dude. All winches need a short cooling period when they heat up, and they'll usually tell you when they need it. This also helps the charging system recover in between uses. Warns will pull all day if you treat them right!

Good luck with whatever you decide, and make sure to mount it securely. If you've never used a winch, try to hook up with a local Jeep or off-road club that does basic off-road driving and recovery instruction. The above suggestions about using a tow strap, snatch blocks, and the like to enhance the use of your winch are valid, but you have to know how to use them safely. There's a right way and a wrong way to use a winch, and you can hurt yourself and/or bystanders if you don't know what you're doing. Our Jeep club does a "Jeep 101" class once or twice a year where we teach such things:
www.bmja.org

Going to tell you this but don't blame me later ha ha. 3 have a 3500 lbs walmart special winch that loaded my 04 quad diesel onto a car trailer with no problem. A 3k winch is able to pull some 12k horizontally. If your drift is a parking lot in 2wd your ok. But don't plan on it ditch saving ya

I think you should save your money. I bought a winch for the exact same reason to pull me out of the snow when im out playing in blizzards. I bought the warn 16.5k pounder. anything less then 10 or 12k isnt worth the effort to hook up let alone the money to buy it. get your self a good flat bladed dirt shovel for 10$ That has gotton me out of any snow related jam I've been in. The winch just works alot faster.